Do you think I'm addicted to Xanax?

[jodyjody]

I'm prescribed Xanax to use IF and ONLY IF I have an anxiety attack. I take Zoloft every day and it works really well, so it is very rare that I do have an attack.
I have a really addicting personality, though, and have struggled in the past with Oxy and Adderal. I know I don't NEED the Xanax... but it's like I just can't help myself when I see a bottle of pills in front of me. Especially one my insurance pays for.
I usually take two mgs a day... one around five o'clock just to take the edge off my day and relax a bit. The only thing that scares me is that I CAN'T get to sleep unless I take at least one mg before lying down to go to bed. Also, the dosage I need to take to "get-fucked-upped" from Xanax is drastically increasing.
I want to stop taking them but I hear quitting Benzos cold turkey can cause seizures and shit... and also I feel that if I'm not on Benzos I will just find another drug to replace their calming effect, possibly one even more dangerous.
So, advice, anyone?

[fiveleggedrat]

Taper Swiy's dose. Go from 2mg a day, to say, 1.5mg a day for a little. Then, 1mg, than .05, then nothing. Reduce dose every few days.

Self incrimination is forbidden. Please make sure to read the rules.

Also, get off soon. Putting this off will only make it worse, Trust us all on that. Addictions do NOT improve. If Swiy has an addictive personality, avoid addictive drugs. Please! Addictive personality carries over to all kinds of drugs, as I'm sure Swiy has realized.

Best of luck!

[Horser]

It dosn't matter what we think. You KNOW your Adddict.

SWIM is on Kapanol (a type of Morph) witch Swim gets dosed daily. SWIM convinced his Doc to ADD 2 vals to his Dispense so he doesn't take the the whole lot at Once.
SWIM is getting off the K's and after that will get off the Val's too.
SWIM knows that Xan and aLL Benzos are a cause of dementia in Old age. Now SWIM isn't really expecting to live to that sort of Age but if SWIM does, SWIM DOES want to be in control of SWIMs Mind.
SWIM will give the Vals the flick pass A.S.A.P.
...... Just NOT today!
Happy Year of the Ox!

[infekt]

swim has heard someone say something similar to this before: If you don't know if your an addict, you probably are because non addicts don't think one way or the other.

[msmogadon]

Originally Posted by Horser

SWIM knows that Xan and aLL Benzos are a cause of dementia in Old age. Now SWIM isn't really expecting to live to that sort of Age but if SWIM does, SWIM DOES want to be in control of SWIMs Mind.

Can SWIY tell SWIM where this info comes from?
SWIM thought this could happen if the person taking the benzo was an elderly person already not actually the cause of dementia in old age. This freaks SWIM out slightly.

[chillinwill]

Originally Posted by Horser

It dosn't matter what we think. You KNOW your Adddict.

SWIM is on Kapanol (a type of Morph) witch Swim gets dosed daily. SWIM convinced his Doc to ADD 2 vals to his Dispense so he doesn't take the the whole lot at Once.
SWIM is getting off the K's and after that will get off the Val's too.
SWIM knows that Xan and aLL Benzos are a cause of dementia in Old age. Now SWIM isn't really expecting to live to that sort of Age but if SWIM does, SWIM DOES want to be in control of SWIMs Mind.
SWIM will give the Vals the flick pass A.S.A.P.
...... Just NOT today!

Happy Year of the Ox!

Please cite sources for where this information came from as I am very interested into why this is so.

[allyourbase]

Originally Posted by jodyjody

the dosage I need to take to "get-fucked-upped" from Xanax is drastically increasing.

this is caused by downregulation of GABA receptors. the hallmark of physical dependence. try cutting back slowly....and get "fucked up" much less often. moderation is the only way.

[Bluedrip]

Suggest SWIY get stable on the lowest fixed, daily dose needed to prevent withdrawal. SWIY will probably need to split the dose into 2 or more dosing intervals. Once stable on lowest fixed daily dose, begin a gradual (2-3 week) crossover to a longer acting benzo. SWIM would use klonopin because of equivelant potency, but valium will certainly work too per Ashton protocol.

SWIM would then use water titration to gradually come off the klonopin, beginning with reductions that add up to no more than 10% of dose in the first two weeks. Adjustments can then be made (speed up; slow down; retain 10% rate) based on your subjective response to dose reductions. The water titration spreadsheet, available free on the web, is a useful tool for schedule planning and maintenance. Hold/slow down when ever symptoms are building/getting worse.

SWIY may find it useful to substitute an ethnobotanical whenever tempted to take a Xanax (or exceed the dose that is planned). SWIM used kava for this purpose. It works on GABA but it did not aggrevate SWIM's symptoms.

Good luck. It's not easy but it can be done.

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